Immediate Answer!

I was reading the story of Elijah and Ahab today and I noticed something I had never thought about. It was the part where Elijah challenges Ahab's prophets to a duel: 400 prophets danced for fire to rain down on their sacrifice all day verses 1 man of God (Elijah) calling upon the Lord for fire to burn the sacrifice. Something struck me as Elijah prayed to God. God immediately answered Elijah's prayer! God burned up the sacrifice plus the wood plus the water that had been poured upon the whole thing. God exceedingly abundantly answered Elijah's prayer IMMEDIATELY when he asked! If you keep reading that passage, you'll see the very next thing Elijah does is to pray for rain! Due to the overwhelming response of God Elijah had just experienced, I would expect that praying for rain would be just as easy, if not easier, than praying for fire to fall from the sky. That's not the case. Scripture says that Elijah prayed for a while. He sent his servant to look for a rain cloud 7 times! This time Elijah's prayer was not answered immediately! It was the same Elijah praying and the same God he prayed to, yet, God chose not to answer immediately!
Has that ever happened to you? One day you see God move in amazing ways as he answers your prayers and other days you're left waiting wondering if He hears you at all. This is the very place where I have been struggling. This passage reminds me to praise the Lord when He answers my prayers immediately and to remain faithful when my prayers seem to go unanswered.
Think of one of your prayers which seems to have gone unanswered but you're still praying anyway. Remind yourself that the servant was asked to look in the distance for any sign of rain. Seven times he did not see anything, BUT Elijah kept on praying in faith! So keep praying you never know when God will bring your answer to the horizon, "even if it looks as small as a mans hand!" Get up and rejoice! Showers of blessing are just ahead!

His Pasture!

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

Think on this!!! We are the sheep of HIS pasture!!!!! We are in God's pasture!!! We are not in the pasture of the enemy!!!! We are in HIS pasture!!!!! There are fences around it...boundaries around it...HE rules it....HE has authority over it and HE is the gate keeper!!!!! Let's dance in HIS pasture today!!!! There is no fear in this pasture!!!!! Love abounds here instead!!!!

Anyone want to roll down the hill with me into the meadow next to the quiet waters?

Here's a thought to meditate on!

It is out of the relationship with Jesus that everything else flows!

I have recently been reminded of this as I have had to look at the pride that was causing my heart to be hardened! My heart was hardened to the relational aspect of living life with Jesus moment to moment!

That's all...just something to ponder!!! Is your relationship with Jesus intimate and tender?